NDP moves motion urging Liberals to reconsider CEBA deadline to help small businesses stay afloat

After moving a motion that calls on the Liberals to extend the Canada Emergency Business Account (CEBA) repayment deadline to support 250,000 small Canadian businesses, NDP Public Service and Procurement critic Gord Johns made the following statement:

“Today, small businesses across the country are being forced to pay back their CEBA loan, or risk missing out on the forgivable portion they were promised.

Nearly every Canadian business has seen their costs, whether on products, rent or their bills skyrocketing. Even while doing everything right, it’s become extremely difficult to keep up with costs.

Being forced to pay back CEBA right now, will put 250,000 small businesses at risk of closing and would cost countless Canadian jobs. It’s cruel, especially with the government doling out more than $21 billion to rich consulting firms.

After months of pleas from small businesses, the Canadian Federation of Independent Businesses, premiers across the country and New Democrats, Justin Trudeau and his out-of-touch Liberals have refused the extension.

All the while, Pierre Poilievre and his corporate controlled Conservatives have sat idly-by for months, then, today used every single tool at their disposal to delay debate and having to take a stand on getting small businesses the support they need.

But even with the Conservative’s refusing to support small businesses, the NDP will keep fighting for them and for an extension of CEBA.”